DIGICEL will transfer a range of technical support services at its Jamaican operations to a sister company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, the tecommunications company has announced.

Sierra, a support services provider controlled by Digicel owner Denis O’Brien, will provide the telecoms giant with field engineering and site maintenance services across its network. Digicel said it represented a strategic move by the company as it felt that the services would be more efficiently managed by a team that specialises in the area.

“Digicel is pleased to join forces with Sierra, a market leader in the delivery of best practice technical support services and looks forward to a relationship that yields results in greater efficiency and the enrichment of our field operations,” said Krishna Phillipps, Digicel Jamaica’s chief technical officer.

“Sierra has developed a distinguished track record of service to a variety of utility companies and that is the kind of excellence that Digicel stands for. We are truly pleased to have the technical support of Sierra as we forge a new path for service delivery and technical capacity in our operations,” he added.

Sierra is a leading service provider to utility companies in Britain and Ireland across a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, power, cable and satellite TV, home energy and civil engineering. Its services include end-to-end project management of large technical field forces along with associated contact centre and back office support, utility network installation and maintenance.

Sierra said its partnership with Digicel is part of a plan for the company to become a major player in the utilities services market, partly in partnership with its sister company.

Sierra chief operating officer Peter McCarthy said synergies between the company and Digicel will lead to effective delivery of its tasks.

“We believe that our expertise, coupled with a consistent pursuit towards offering innovative solutions will ensure an efficient contract delivery and successful partnership,” McCarthy said.

In response to Business Observer queries on how many workers will be impacted by the move, the telecoms firm said, “Nineteen Digicel employees had the opportunity to expand their professional horizons by working with Sierra both as part of the services being offered to Digicel and their wider expansion in Jamaica.”

Digicel added that the establishment of Sierra in Jamaica is expected to also result in further employment opportunities in the areas of field engineering, site maintenance and technical services.

— BO